This clock is also depicted on the attached label to this stamp stating that the 85th Congress of the FFAP (French Federation of Stamp Associations) was organized in Paris during this Stamp Show 2012.

The architect Victor Laloux has designed this impressive building in the heart of Paris, that was then a modern train station serving the south-west France.

Fell into decay after the second world war, it was decided in the 1970s to transform this station into a Museum. The Musée d'Orsay, inaugurated in 1986, is devoted to modern painting of the late 19th century (with the largest collection of Impressionist works in the world) but also to the decorative arts and sculpture.

These three LISA ("Ecopli" postal rate, currently € 0.55) are included on the nice special cover below, together with their respective cancellations dated June 16, 2012.

During this Stamp Exhibitionr, a joint stamp set with the United States (Edith Piaf, Miles Davis) was issued. The LISA on the top left (design of both the LISA and postmark : Sophie Beaujard) evokes the French-American friendship with some great figures of history having marked our two countries : the Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Alexis de Tocqueville (known for his analysis of American democracy), the Count de Rochambeau (French military who participated in the War of Independence of the United States) and Pierre-Charles L'Enfant (French-American architect who designed the plans of the U.S. capital).

The LISA on the bottom left (design of the LISA : Isy Ochoa, postmark : Sophie Beaujard) on the letter above is devoted to six major characters of France's History with in chronological order from left to right : King Louis IX (St. Louis), King Francis I, King Henry IV (we'll find again this same King in November, the topic of a France-Andorra joint stamp issue), King Louis XIV, Emperor Napoleon I and General Charles de Gaulle.

Som different portraits of Kings St. Louis and Louis XIV are featured on the postmark.

The last LISA (design of both the LISA and postmark : Claude Perchat) at the top right, shows the famous Musée d'Orsay in Paris, known for its amazing collection of Impressionist works, with the statue "Horse with the harrow" by Pierre-Louis Rouillard, installed in front of the Museum in 1987.

This ATM stamp also mentions the 85th Congress of the FFAP that was organized as part of this "Salon du Timbre" (a stamp was also issued about this topic, I'll speak about very soon on this blog).

I've shared with you a few days ago on this blog a nice cover franked with the surprising EUROPA 2012 souvenir sheet (with a hollowed stamp) issued by the Principality of Andorra (French Post).

Olivier (thank you very much !) was kind enough to send me this second letter below, mailed on June 12, 2012 from the parish of Escaldes-Engordany, this time franked with the EUROPA stamp issued by the Spanish Post in Andorra !

This stamp (€ 0.70, print run : 100,000) more classic, issued on April 4, 2012, is dedicated to the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, located in the same parish of Escaldes, the only place in Andorra to be a UNESCO World Heritage site (since 2004).

As a reminder, the theme chosen for the EUROPA stamps issued in 2012 is "Visit..." and the Spanish Post in Andorra had the bright idea to make us discover this exceptional glacial valley.

According to UNESCO, "the cultural landscape of Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley offers a
microcosmic perspective of the way people have harvested the resources
of the high Pyrenees over millennia".

This valley, located in the southeast of the Principality of Andorra, near the Spanish border, occupies about 10% of the country. It consists of beautiful mountain scenery, glaciers, lakes and wooded valleys. Marked by pastoralism (in example the shepherd's stone house on that stamp), this valley is characterized by a communal land-ownership system dating back to the 13th century.

To note that the French Post in Andorra had already issued stamps devoted to this same valley in 2004 and 2005.

As part of the last "Salon du Timbre" held in Paris, the French Post has issued a curious stamp entitled "Sports"...

It is that panoramic stamp (€ 0.89, print run : 2,000,000) that appears on the First Day cover below with a postmark of June 12, 2012 designed by Valérie Besser who has also laid out that stamp created by Jean-Francois Arrigon-Neri.

After an exuberant souvenir sheet of 10 stamps issued in 2008 for the Beijing Olympic Games, it is this unique stamp that was issued this year about the next Olympics in London...

The only indication is the presence of Big Ben in the background on this stamp since neither the Olympic rings or the logo of these games, or even the mention of London are included ??

I propose to you some hypotheses to explain these absences : the French Post did perhaps not wish to pay dues to the IOC (or the organizing committee of the London Olympics ?) to have the permission to include the logo or Olympic rings on a stamp ?

Or it is a revenge of France and the city of Paris which had lost the organization of these games of 2012 against the British capital ?

Anyway, this stamp is quite successful with an evocation of three sports : women's tennis (France will not have medal chances...), athletics and men's handball (France is the defending Olympic champion).

The FDC cancellation, rather ugly in my opinion, features two other disciplines, fencing and swimming, in which French athletes should shine in London !

France will in any case try to do better than in Beijing with 41 medals (7 gold only) and a 10th place in the national rankings.

To note that, in the calendar of ADPhile published earlier this year, it was announced, about this issue, a souvenir sheet with the Tower of London in the background...

To illustrate the theme "Visit..." chosen by the European postal organization PostEurop for the EUROPA stamps issued in 2012, the Serbian Post has issued a set of two stamps devoted to natural, cultural and religious heritage of the country.

These two EUROPA stamps, issued on May 30, 2012, appear on the cover below mailed on June 11, 2012 from the town of Pancevo. Thank you very much Zoran :-)

Each stamp was issued in mini-sheet of 8 stamps including a central vignette and illustrated margins.

The stamp to the left (77 Serbian Dinars) is very mysterious to me, I guess that the ski resort of Kopaonik Mountains, the largest ski area in the country, is depicted ?

This stamp also seems to evoke ecotourism but I do not know which other places are featured here ?

The other stamp (44 Serbian dinars) is devoted to the cultural and religious heritage of Serbia with some of the main Orthodox monasteries of the country.

The Mileševa monastery is featured to the left on this stamp. This monastery, whose construction began in the 13th century, is known for its frescoes adorning the Church of the Ascension of Christ. Also dating from the 13th century, they are depicting bishops, saints and martyrs as well as the "White Angel", one of the most famous frescoes of Serbia, showing an angel sitting on the tomb of Christ.

It is that white angel that appears in the upper right on that stamp.

The red building in the center of the stamp is the Zica monastery (near Kraljevo) also decorated with frescoes of the 13th century. This monastery has celebrated its 800th anniversary in 2005.

The marble church of the Holy Mother of God, located in the Studenica Monastery (12th century), is depicted on the right side of that stamp. This monastery, listed as UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986, is the largest and richest (Byzantine frescoes of the 13th and 14th century) of Serbian Orthodox monasteries.

Between 8 June to 1 July 2012, Poland and Ukraine are jointly organizing the 14th edition of the European Football Championship (UEFA Euro 2012).

The two postal administrations have obviously issued several stamps about this sporting event of the first plan bringing together the 16 best teams of the continent.

The Polish Post has issued in particular, on June 8, 2012, a series of four stamps designed by Bożydar Grozdew, devoted to different stadiums of the country (Warsaw, Wroclaw, Poznan and Gdansk) hosting games during this tournament.

These stamps have been issued each in a mini-sheet of 8 stamps with a central vignette. A souvenir sheet combining the four stamps was also issued.

It is the stamp devoted to the municipal stadium in Wrocław that appears on the official FDC above with an interesting illustrated envelope showing an inside view of the stadium. Thank you very much Kazimierz :-)

To note the presence on this stamp of the official logo of this Euro 2012 with two flowers bearing the colors of the two countries (red and white, yellow and blue).

This stadium of Wrocław (42,771 seats), inaugurated in September 2011, was built specifically for this competition. Three games of the Group A (Czech Republic, Russia, Greece, Poland) were played here.

Kazimierz (thank you again !) has also sent me the second FDC of June 8, 2012 above concerning this time the stamp devoted to the Municipal Stadium in Poznań.

Built from 1968 and inaugurated in 1980, this stadium (46,676 seats after the Euro) was renovated between 2003 and 2010 and hosts the Polish championship matches of the two clubsof this city, Lech Poznań and Warta Poznań.

Three games of the Group C (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Ireland) took place in this stadium during this UEFA Euro 2012.

After the velocipede in 2011, the French Post has issued in preview sale on June 10, 2012, a new miniature sheet of six stamps as part of its series "Le coin du collectionneur", dedicated this year to lead's toy soldiers.

This sheet printed again with a mixed offset/intaglio process (design by Pierre-André Cousin, engraving by Yves Beaujard) appears on the first day cover below, mailed from the last "Planète Timbre" Stamp Exhibition held in Paris, where this preview sale took place.

To note that this First Day of Issue took also place on the same day in the Renaissance castle of Coulonges-sur-l'Autize (Department of Deux-Sèvres) with the same FDC postmark designed by Claude Perchat.

These lead figurines, featuring some soldiers dating from all periods of history, would have been created in the 18th century when they replaced some previous tin soldiers from Germany.

They were very popular in France after the defeat of the war of 1870 before gradually falling into oblivion...

Adults have now replaced children in this particular collection whose Army Museum in Paris (the Dome of the Invalides, where this Museum is located, is depicted in the lower margin of this sheet) has valuable specimens.

The different figures depicted here are : Vercingetorix on horseback (1st century BC), a Crusader (12th century), an infantryman (16th century), a drummer (18th century), a "Grognard" from the Great Army of Napoleon I (First Empire) and another infantryman (World War I).

Since 1994, the Czech Post is issuing, each year, a series of prepaid picture postcards devoted to different cities of the country.

In 2012, eight new cards have been issued, each evoking some religious buildings of major Czech cities.

I was lucky enough to receive this full set below (thank you so much Bret !). Each card is pre-stamped with a permanent type 'A' stamp (domestic ordinary letter up to 50g, 10 Kč currently) featuring the coat of arms of the Czech Republic.

Bret has completed this postage with another permanent 'A' stamp, issued on February 23, 2011, being part of the definitive series devoted to the folk architecture of the country.

I don't know the exact date of issue of this series, maybe June 13, 2012, the date of dispatch of these eight postcards (print run : 4,400 each) ?

The first card above is devoted to the capital, Prague, with a view of a part of Hradcany castle from the banks of the Vltava River and Charles Bridge. The historical center of Prague, including the Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage since 1992.

To note the special cancellation from Prague above including the arms of the city.

L'église gothique Sainte-Barbe de Kutná Hora est représentée sur la carte ci-dessus. Cet édifice religieux construit à la fin du 14ème siècle, ainsi que le centre historique de cette ville née de l'exploitation de mines d'argent, est également inscrit sur la liste du patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO depuis 1995.The Gothic St. Barbara Church of Kutná Hora is depicted on the postcard above. This religious building constructed in the late 14th century, as well as the historic center of this city born from the exploitation of silver mines, is also inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO since 1995.

The card above is devoted to the city of Plzeň (world famous for its beer production) and in particular to its Gothic St. Bartholomew Cathedral (15th century).

To note that its spire, high of over 100 meters, makes this religious building the highest in the country !

La ville de Cheb (Egra en français), située dans l'extrême ouest du pays, est à l'honneur sur la carte ci-dessus avec son église paroissiale Saint-Nicolas datant du 13ème siècle.The town of Cheb (or Eger), located in the extreme west of the country, is honored on the card above with its St. Nicolas parish Church dating from the 13th century.

Un des monuments architecturaux les plus importants de la région de Moravie du sud est représenté sur la carte ci-dessus : la cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Paul de la ville de Brno, dont la construction a commencé au 11ème siècle.One of the most important architectural monuments in the region of South Moravia is featured on the card above : the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul of the city of Brno, whose construction began in the 11th century.

The St. Wenceslas Church of the city of Olomouc is depicted on the illustration of the card above. Built in the 12th century in Romanesque style, it was enlarged in Gothic style in the 13th and 14th century.

To note that its main tower (hidden by the tree above), is a little less high (100.6 meters) than the spire of the cathedral of Plzeň mentioned above...

The seventh card above shows the Gothic St. Maurice Church of Kroměříž, built from the 13th century.

To note that the gardens and the castle of Kroměříž are a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998.

La dernière carte ci-dessus évoque un lieu important de pèlerinage dans le pays, l'église baroque de la Purification de la Vierge de Dub Nad Moravou, construite entre 1734 et 1756 par l'architecte Klíčník.The last card above evokes an important place of pilgrimage in the country, the baroque Church of the Purification of Our Lady located in Dub Nad Moravou, built between 1734 and 1756 by architect Klíčník.

A short post to share with you this letter from Slovakia, mailed from Bratislava on June 12, 2012, franked with a beautiful engraved souvenir sheet reproducing a work entitled "Metercia from Rožňava".

Thank you very much Robert :-)

This sheet, issued on December 13, 2011 and engraved by František Horniak, consists of one stamp (€ 1.60) featuring the central scene of this painted panel, with Sainte-Anne to the left and the Virgin Mary with Jesus on the right.

This work was painted in 1513 and is part of the most famous works of art of the late Gothic period in Slovakia.

This painting is one of the most valuable collections of the Cathedral of Rožňava, a small town in south-eastern Slovakia.

This religious work is unique because it includes many realistic scenes in the background related to the mining past of the city of Rožňava, from the extraction of precious metals, their transports(with small wagons) and the foundry in the margin to the left. To note that St. Anne is the patron saint of miners.

This entire scene is overseen by the figure of God the Father, cleaving the clouds, while musician angels have climbed a tree on the left.

Finally, to note that this stamp was awarded the most beautiful stamp issued in Slovakia in 2011 (which is quite justified in my opinion !) and the Slovak Post has issued on June 1, 2012, a prepaid illustrated postcard in its honor.

After a stamp with a mirror effect in 2010 (Children's Books) and a stamp recalling the appearance of wood in 2011 (Forests), the Principality of Andorra (French Post) has again demonstrated originality with the issue of its EUROPA stamp issued on May 5, 2012, devoted to the theme "Visit..." this year.

This is actually a souvenir sheet consisting of one € 0.77 stamp (priority letter up to 20g to the EU countries) that was issued with the words "Points of view / Visita Andorra" in the top left margin.

It is that interesting sheet that appears on the nice letter below mailed on June 12, 2012 from Andorra la Vella, the capital of the small Pyrenean Principality.

The designer of this innovative souvenir sheet, the artist Marc-André de Figueres, alias MA2F, has actually adapted his art concept of installation in situ, "Points 2 Vue" ("Points of View"), with this hollowed stamp (within a framework) that allows customers to create their own perspective with the landscape of their choice !

MA2F has indeed declined this concept with his permanent art installation "Points 2 vue around the clock tower of Collioure" that offers a staging of this clock tower through 12 different points of view...

The margins of this block show some emblematic aerial view of the Principality of Andorra : Peak of Casamanya at the top left, the city of Andorra la Vella in the lower left as well as the Setúria Valley to the right.

Is this the first time that a postal administration puts into circulation a partly hollowed stamp ??

23 years after the previous joint stamp issue between France and the United States (1989 : Bicentenary of the French Revolution), the two postal administrations have issued a new joint series consisting of two stamps dedicated to two giants of music and song : Miles Davis for the United States and Edith Piaf for France.

In France, these two stamps (€ 0.60 and € 0.89, issued in diptych) were issued in preview sale on June 12, 2012 during the last "Salon du Timbre" held in Paris from 9 to 17 June 2012.

These two black and white stamps appear on the first day cover below. To note that Valérie Besser is the author of the layout of this set (printed in photogravure) as well as the designer of the FDC postmark.

These two artists, who have never been together on stage during their lifetime, were chosen because they have known a huge success in the two countries : Miles Davis (1926-1991) in France and Edith Piaf (1915-1963) in the United States.

Edith Piaf, through her popular songs ("Life in Pink"...), is considered in the U.S. as a symbol of France and Paris.

The jazz trumpeter Miles Davis played on numerous occasions in France where he was made ​​a Knight of the Legion of Honor and an honorary citizen of the city of Paris.

To note that the French Post has issued this series in a sheet of 25 diptychs as well as in a sheet of 13 diptychs including illustrated parts showing portraits of the two artists on stage (I think it is a first in France...).

I was very lucky to receive the American version of this stamp series on the beautiful cover above mailed on June 18, 2012 from the city of El Paso, Texas. Thank you very much Jean-Claude :-)

To note that, contrary to the French stamps, these two U.S. (self-adhesive) stamps do not mention that this is a joint issue with France and have the same postal rate (permanent "Forever" rate, i.e. $ 0.45 currently).

The USPS has also issued this series in the same sheet including illustrated parts, consisting of 20 stamps (10 of each).

For the first time, a QR-code was printed on the back of these stamps, allowing, with a smartphone, to listen to music or view photographs of these two artists !

It seems that Edith Piaf will again be in the spotlight in the U.S. in 2013 with an innovative musical stamp...

The French Post had already honored some great American jazz artists in 2002 (Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald).

After Flora in 2009, gastronomy in 2010 and festivals and traditions in 2011, the French Post has issued in preview sale on June 9, 2012, the last part of its series entitled "La France comme j'aime" ("The way I like France" devoted this time to castles and historic houses of the regions of France.

This series consisting each year of two booklets of 12 self-adhesive stamps, allows us to discover some of the treasures from the different regions of France and French overseas territories.

These two new booklets are devoted respectively to the castles from the Middle Ages and to houses and castles dating from the Renaissance to the 20th century.

The block of four stamps below is part of this second booklet (illustrations by Stéphane Humbert-Basset, graphic design and FDC cancellation by the "Agence Grenade").

The impressive silhouette of Pierrefonds Castle located in the department of Oise (Region of Picardie) is depicted on one of the four stamps above. This castle has been completely reinvented in the 19th century (at the request of Emperor Napoleon III) by the architect Viollet-le-Duc from the ruins of a castle dating from the late 14th century.

The Castle (or Palladian Villa) of Syam, inspired by Venetian Villas, was built between 1816 and 1828 in the department of Jura (Region of Franche-Comté). This building, in a surprising style in this region, was built at the request of the owner of the Forges of Syam (raised in the right margin on this block), located nearby.

Let's travel now on the island of Guadeloupe (French West Indies) to discover the Villa Souques-Pagès located in the historic center of the city of Pointe-à-Pitre, built in a colonial style reminding the architecture of New Orleans. This house is home to the Saint-John Perse Museum since 1987 (his portrait appears in the left margin), a famous French writer, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1960.

The last stamp above features the Villa Majorelle (named after the famous French decorator and furniture designer), or "Villa Jika", built in the early 20th century in Nancy, in the typical Art Nouveau style of the School of Nancy.

A stamp being part of the other booklet ("Castles of the Middle Ages") appears on this other First Day Cover above. Thank you very much Stéphane :-)

It depicts the three towers of the Castle of the Counts of Foix, which dominates this city of the department of Ariège (Region of Midi-Pyrénées). Important place of the Cathar history, it was built between the 12th and 14th century and restored in the late 19th century by a former employee of Viollet-le-Duc.

The two postal administrations have chosen to feature on these two stamps some emblematic plants of the two countries : Coffee for Colombia and Ginseng ("Insam") for Korea.

Fruit, leaves or flowers are also depicted on these stamps.

With this issue, the Korean Post also points out that Colombia was the only Latin American country having sent troops (under UN mandate) during the Korean War.

Ji-Ho has also used two definitive stamps issued on March 6, 2003 (10 won, the Korean national flag "Taegeukgi") and on July 1, 1997 (80 won, Japanese White-eye, a species of passerine bird living in Southeastern Asia).

Les 2 derniers FDC ci-dessus et ci-dessous concerne la série de 4 timbres, émise le 6 juin 1998, consacrée à différents paysages de Shennongjia, une des célèbres forêts primitives du pays, située entre les Trois Gorges du fleuve Yangtse et la rivière Hanshui.The last two FDC above and below are about the series of four stamps, issued on June 6, 1998, devoted to different landscapes of Shennongjia, a famous primitive forests of the country, situated between the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River and the Hanshui River.

I had already published a post on this blog, in early 2012, about this impressive set of 33 stamps (one for each province) issued in Indonesia in 2011, all devoted to traditional textile patterns used on batik, this printing fabrics technique practiced mainly on the island of Java.

As a reminder, this series was issued to announce the International Stamp Exhibition "Indonesia 2012" held in Jakarta from 18 to 24 June 2012.

The Indonesian batik, one of the main symbols of the country, is inscribed by UNESCO on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2009.

To evoke the EUROPA 2012 theme, "Visit...", the Slovak Post has chosen to illustrate on its stamp, the oldest archaeological piece of the country in connection with this theme !

This is actually a part of the relief decoration of a Roman silver plate, called "lanx diskos" and dating from the 2nd century BC, discovered in the years 1930s in a tomb of a Germanic chief in Krakovany.

This decoration features various scenes from the beginning of Roman era, in particular some events related to the expulsion of the last Etruscan king in Rome Tarquinius Superbus, in 509 BC.

It is that stamp (€ 0.90), issued on May 4, 2012, that appears in the top left on this cover below mailed on June 12, 2012 from Bratislava. Thank you very much Robert :-)

The scene on this stamp depicts the visit to the temple of Apollo in Delphi of the king's sons, Titus, Aruns and their cousin Lucius Junius Brutus.

To note that this stamp was issued with an attached coupon, in an interesting sheet of 8 stamps (four tête-bêche pairs).

Robert has used a second stamp, issued on June 1, 2012, dedicated to the International Children's Day. This permanent rate "T2 50g" (currently € 0.40) stamp was issued in sheets of 8 stamps with personalized attached coupons, as its the case with the stamp above.

The illustration reproduced on this stamp was chosen following a competition involving several secondary schools of arts of the country.

The winner, Radka Hudoková, student at the school of Ladislav Bielik in Levice, has depicted a colorful birthday cake to symbolize the celebrations marking this International Children's Day.

The coupon above refers to Bibiana, the name of the international house of arts for children, founded in 1987 as part of the famous Biennale of Illustrations of Bratislava (BIB).

Worldwide, nearly 100 million people are working for cooperatives, these economic entities based on the principle of cooperation with the aim to best serve the economic interests of its members.

According to the United Nations, the lives of 3 billion people are improved through the cooperative action.

This is probably for this reason that the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives that contribute to economic development, fight against poverty or create jobs.

Very few postal administrations (not even UNPA !) have so far issued stamps on this theme in 2012 (some ATM stamps issued in Portugal, a prepaid envelope in Australia)...

The Singapore Post has issued on May 31, 2012, an interesting series of five stamps dedicated to this International Year of Cooperatives. Thank you very much Terence for the official FDC above including this complete set :-)

The $ 1.10 stamp on the lower right, is devoted to the "Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers" founded in England by weavers in 1844, considered the founder of the cooperative movement.

The other stamps in this series feature significant dates related to the cooperative movement in Singapore : the birth of the first cooperative in 1925, the birth of cooperatives under the National Trades Union Congress in 1969, the birth of the Singapore National Cooperative Federation in 1980.

To note that the official logo of this International Year of Cooperatives, a group of seven persons working together to lift and support a cube (symbolizing the various project goals and aspirations upon which
cooperative are built), is reproduced in the bottom right of each of these five stamps.

A big thank you Luis for this very nice registered letter from Spain, mailed on May 22, 2012 from Alicante, with an interesting mixed EUROPA/UPAEP postage !

The top right stamp (€ 0.70), in two copies, is the EUROPA stamp issued on April 4, 2012 by the Spanish Post, devoted to the theme "Visit..." this year.

This stamp with a surrealist style, designed by J. Carrero, was inspired by the famous painting "Las Meninas" by Spanish painter Diego Velasquez with a framework symbolizing the historical and cultural heritage of Spain.

Beaches, climate, light are also featured on this stamp, reminding us that Spain is the second most visited country in the world with nearly 60 million tourists each year.

Luis has also used three other stamps being part of the UPAEP series issued respectively in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

As for EUROPA stamps, a theme is chosen each year for the stamps issued by member countries of the UPAEP (Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal).

The one issued in 2005 (on October 14th) above had the "struggle against poverty" for theme with an allegory depicting two open hands as an offering, education with a pencil, working with a tool and foods with a piece of bread.

The UPAEP stamp issued in 2006 (on October 14th) was devoted to energy saving and to the promotion of renewable energy. Solar and wind energies are featured in particular on that stamp.

The last UPAEP stamp above, issued on October 11, 2007, reproduced a group of letters of the alphabet with the inscription "Education for All", the theme of this year.

It was in 1512 (until 1516) that began the conception of the Isenheim Altarpiece, now an exceptional piece of painting and sculpture of the 16th century.

Work by Mathias Grünewald for the painted panels and by Nicolas de Haguenau for the sculptures, this monumental polyptych (3.30 meters high, 5.90 meters wide) is kept at the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar since 1853.

It was originally designed for the Commandery of the Antonine monks of the village of Isenheim, hence its name.

This altarpiece is composed of a central part consisting of sculptures of St. Augustine, St. Anthony and St. Jerome, with two sets of wings, displaying three configurations of (lime-tree) painted panels.

At the occasion of the Stamp Exhibition held in Paris from 9 to 17 June 2012, the French Post has issued, in preview sale on June 15, 2012, an incredible souvenir sheet dedicated to the 500th anniversary of this Isenheim Altarpiece.

It is that sheet (print run : 500,000), laid out by Sarah Lazarevic, that appears on the First Day cover above.

The First Day sale of this sheet took also place the same day in Colmar and Isenheim. Sarah Lazarevic has also designed the three FDC postmarks (applied on this cover) : statue of St. Anthony on the FDC cancellations issued in Paris and Colmar, statue of Christ on the other one issued in Isenheim.

To note that this last postmark is interesting because it features a statue of Christ, surrounded by those of the 12 Apostles, located behind the painted predella of this altarpiece (Lamentation of Christ), not visible on this sheet !

In the closed configuration (above), the painted panels feature the crucifixion in the center (Christ on the Cross with Saint John holding the Virgin in his arms and Mary Magdalene to the left, St. John the Baptist on the right) and St. Sebastian to the left and St. Anthony on the right.

This souvenir sheet was designed in the same way that this altarpiece and thus allows the opening of two series of painted panels !

In the "first opening" configuration above, you can admire a splendid new series of panels with a Nativity scene and a Concert of angels in the center, the Annunciation ont the left's panel as well as the Resurrection on the right.

The richness of color and expressiveness of the various characters make this altarpiece a really unique work in the history of painting.

Many postal administrations have already issued stamps devoted to this altarpiece in the past. In France, the musician angel (viola da gamba) located in the lower left part of the "Concert of Angels" panel above, appeared on a Red Cross stamp issued in 1985.

The three stamps of this sheet (statues of St. Augustine, St. Anthony and St. Jerome) also appear on the first day cover above mailed from the village of Isenheim (Department of Haut-Rhin) where a temporary post office was set up in the convent of the Antonines. Thank you very much Olivier :-)

As a reminder, this altarpiece was originally designed for this convent before being dismantled and stored in the city of Colmar during the French Revolution in 1793.